VicVegas

Listening to Tebow's post game remarks. "First and foremost I have to thank my Lord and savior Jesus Christ." While describing his thoughts after throwing the game-winning TD he thanked the Lord twice in 15 seconds. Sounds like Jesus had a good game.

No excuses from me. Credit where credit is due. It pains me to say it but Tebow played well, threw for over 300 yards, 2 tds, no INTs, and against a very good defense.

I never said His Tebowness doesn't have the right to express his belief in an imaginary man in the sky. Of course he does, and I have the right to point out how ridiculous and self serving it is. "Look at me America! I am one of 'you', and we are all part of a 'special club'. Isn't Jesus great!" Well Saint Timmy, if Jesus is so great, why did he let the Chiefs beat you? Does Jesus love the Chiefs more? If Jesus was watching I'd like to say one thing to him, "Turn off the fuckin' game and get to work on poverty and hunger!" I'd love to hear the ruckus Christians would raise if a Muslim got down and prayed on the field before a game. Christians would call him a terrorist or a communist . . . or both. Here's a news flash for you Buzz: The Texans and Lions had already wrapped up their play-off spots before Sunday's games, so it didn't matter whether they won or lost. The Bengals situation however is similiar to Denver's. If someone hated the Bengals as much as I hate the Donkeys, then yes I would understand them saying the Bengals "lost their way" into the play-offs. BTW my feelings are not "sour grapes" because I don't think my Chiefs deserved to be in the play-offs. IMHO none of the teams in the AFC West deserve to be there. Of course no one thought the Seahawks deserved to be in the play-offs last year, and they beat the Saints in the first round.

I have been teaching English in Thailand for the past 3 years. Most schools are looking for someone with a TEFL certificate (120 hours) and a 4 year college degree in any subject. That said, if you have white skin, are a native speaker of English, and look fairly presentable, you can get hired somewhere in Thailand. I've worked with several teachers who didn't have a degree, but most places at the minimum want you to take some sort of TEFL course. Most schools will pay 30,000 baht per month. Once you get a little experience under your belt you should be able to negotiate that figure up a bit. Salaries are usually a bit higher in BKK, but so is the cost of living. Salaries tend to be lower in touristy areas like Phuket and Chiang Mai. Many teachers supplement their income by teaching part time at language schools or teaching private students. If you have a degree in Education you should be able to find a job in an international school, which usually pays better. I disagree about lining up a job before you move over, unless you have an advanced degree. Some of the internet head hunters are famous for promising the world to get you over here, then delivering much, much less. The stories of a newly arrived teacher being driven to a school in the boonies and given the key to a shack-like accomodation with no AC are not just urban myths. Best to do your TEFL course in Thailand, get a feel for the country and how the system is run, develop some contacts, decide where you want to work, then go to schools in person and ask about jobs. The best months for teacher job hunting are April and October. The most valuable thing I got out of my TEFL course was the teaching practice with actual Thai students. I've known some teachers who did online TEFL courses, and they were shockingly un-prepared when their new bosses pushed them into an actual class of 40 screaming Thai teenagers.

Looks like you've drunk the jk pedantic cool-aid. Yes, it took an Oakland loss for the Broncos to make it into the play-offs. But you see, the Broncos also lost. I define that as "losing their way into the play-offs". What's this? When confronted with over-whelming evidence jk admits the obvious? It only took 33 posts. That's really fast for you joe. Well, that didn't last long. As a Chiefs fan I sincerely hope the Donkeys continue starting Tebow. Please, please, make him the cornerstone of your franchise. Follow jk's advice and "work with him".

. . . and the Bronco nose dive continues. How bad is the AFC West? The Donkeys "lost" their way into the play-offs. Why couldn't they beat the Chiefs on Sunday? It's obvious - because their QB can't pass. Not a great game by Kyle Orton but sweet revenge vs the team that gave up on him. Looking forward to watching the Steelers defense embarrass Tebonehead in their play-off game next weekend. Other play-off match ups: Cincinnati at Houston Atlanta at NY Giants And the marquee match up, IMHO - Detroit at New Orleans. That should be a fun one.

Reggie White was a great player. Tebow is not . . . yet. Could Tebow get better? Sure. I just get sick of all the coverage he is getting right now as an average player, most of which I believe is due to his Jesus spouting. You want examples of all the Tebow love? Turn on any sportscast or click on most internet links about the NFL. Take a look at the teams Tebow has beat: Miami - When they were 0-6, nuff said. Raiders - The AFC West is really bad this year. The Raiders are ranked 29th in total defense. When they played the Broncos they were starting Carson Palmer for the first time. McGahee was the real star of that game, shredding the Raider D for 163 yards and 2 TDs. My Chiefs - A truly ugly game by both teams. The Chiefs hadn't scored a TD the previous two weeks. Tebow had two completions during the entire game, and luckily for the Donkeys one of them was a 56 yard TD pass. Let's hope this Sunday's game contains a little better level of football. Jets - The Jets D contained Tebow all game by stacking the box and daring him to throw. Then in the 4th quarter they got cute and sent their first all-out blitz of the game. Give Tebow credit - he read it and made them pay by running 20 yards for the game winning TD. BTW, this was a Thursday night game. The Jets had lost to the rival Patriots 4 days earlier on Sunday night. Not making excuses, just saying. Chargers - Did I mention that the AFC West is horrible this year? Tebow ran the ball 22 times in this game . . . 22. For a little perspective, the Buffalo Bills are saying they will try to limit runningback CJ Spiller to 20 touches this weekend, and he's a REAL runningback. Tebow's 22 rushes were the most by a pro quarterback since the 1950's. When a QB feels the need to attempt 22 rushes, it's time to stick him in the backfield and go get a guy who can pass the ball. The Chargers were on an 8 game losing streak when they played Tebow. Denver kicker Matt Prater extended that streak to 9 with a field goal in OT. Vikings - A horrible defense, as their 3-12 record would indicate. They have allowed opposing offenses to score 22 or more points in all but one game this season. Bears - No Cutler, no Forte, but Marion Barber WAS playing, unfortunately for the Bears. I give Tebow a little credit for passing for 236 yards, but Chicago was in the middle of a freefall - they had lost to the Chiefs and Raiders the previous two weeks and have lost 2 more since the Broncos game. Not a good team. So there's the great Tebow winning streak. Yawn.

Joe I am most offended by pseudo-sports experts who latch onto a flash-in-the-pan player and declare him to be (literally in Tebow's case) the second coming. There are so many great young players in the NFL this year who deserve praise. Andy Dalton with Cincinnati is ten times the QB that Tebow is, yet because Dalton doesn't wear his religion on his sleeve (or on his eyeblack) the average fan doesn't know much about him. You are right, IF the Broncos make the play-offs they might have to win a game to play the likes of Pittsburgh or Baltimore, so I'll change my Bronco failure dream to a more likely scenario: the worst division winning team (Denver) plays a wild card team (Cincinnati), and the Bengals defense, currently ranked 3rd in the NFL in total sacks, send the reverend Tebow to the Arena League where he belongs. As a side note, I have to include a comment from fellow atheist Bill Maher: "Wow, Jesus just [screwed] #TimTebow bad! And on Xmas Eve! Somewhere ... Satan is tebowing, saying to Hitler "Hey, Buffalo’s killing them,"

Tebow 120/250 completions/attempts (48%), 12 tds, 6 interceptions, 6 fumbles, QB rating 75.9 Orton 125/223 completions/attempts, (60.5%), 9 tds, 9 interceptions, 2 fumbles, QB rating 78.7 Pretty close statistically, but Orton is better.

The fact that there are two NFL teams in the area has zero effect on the size of the market. San Francisco and the surrounding bay area is a large market - that's why it can support two teams. Green Bay and Jacksonville are small markets. Not the last two weeks. This is the only thing keeping him in the starting line up right now - he sells jerseys (The Donkeys sell out their games with or without Tebow). As Tebow himself would humbly tell you, he didn't do it alone. Their defense has improved greatly, and they have a guy in the backfield named McGahee who deserves more attention than Tebow. Tebow led a couple of 4th quarter comebacks against very suspect competition. He's a college option QB. He's a one-deminsional player. Elway and Fox know this. That's why they were so hesitant to throw any support his way. The team went on a freakish winning streak with him, so now they're stuck with him, at least until he falls on his face and loses fan support. It's already started, and I hope it continues this weekend against my Chiefs. I wouldn't put any money on it because, despite the win over the Packers, the Chiefs haven't exactly looked like world beaters lately. Still this is a heated rivalry and Orton has plenty of motive to have a big game. Of course it might be more fun to watch a really good defense like Pittsburgh or Baltimore "crucify" Tebow in the first round of the play-offs.

Since when is SF a small market? There are over 7 million people in the bay area. Tebow magic seems to have evaporated. Four interceptions in the second half, two returned for tds, as "Tebownhead" helped the pathetic Bills end their 7-game losing streak. Elway is desperately trying to work out a way for the Donkey's to trade up in the draft and get his Stanford brother Andrew Luck. Rex Ryan, maybe you should think before you trash talk. Looks like the Giants are the least-sucky NFL team in New Jersey. The Pats won ugly again, but it WAS a win. Miami allowed 27 unanswered points and gave away a 17-0 halftime lead. Luckily for my fantasy team Reggie Bush seems to have found his mojo. I think he's finally gotten over his break up with Kim Kardashian.

This captures my true feelings about X-mas. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv1rGImJYQQ&feature=related

Two replies in a week. Where are the NFL fans? At least the footie fans bring a little passion for their sport to this board. Good day in the NFL for me. 1. My Chiefs ended Green Bay's unbeaten streak. Probably the best thing that could happen to the Cheeseheads. The pressure's off for a perfect season, so now they can concentrate on getting healthy and landing home field advantage for the play-offs. 2. The Pats beat the Donkeys and brought the legend of Tebow down to earth. Geuss Jesus liked Tom Brady better on Sunday, huh?

It's December and the NFL play-off picture is becoming clearer. Thought I'd open a thread for those interested in discussing their favorite team or for laying down a little smack talk. In the NFC it's all about the Packers. Aaron Rodgers is a stud and the Cheeseheads are celebrating a perfect season . . . so far. Who can beat them? The Saints might be able to, but they'll probably have to wait for the NFC championship game to prove it. The 49ers have looked strong despite a loss today to the Cards. Dallas and NY are fighting it out for the NFC East. Atlanta and Detroit are hoping for wild card bids. New England has taken their regular spot as the best team in the AFC. Pittsburgh and Baltimore are right behind them. The surprising Texans have clinched the AFC South. Even more surprising are the Tim Tebow led Broncos, who seem to be a lock for the play-offs in the weak AFC West. They play the Pats next weekend, so Cinderella Tebow should finally hear the clock strike Midnight. The Jets love to talk trash, but can they make any noise as a wild card team? My Chiefs have been killed by injuries this season, so I'm all about the Packers. I'll be boring and pick a Packers/Patriots Super Bowl.

Noticed the local 7-11s and Jiffy Marts had many boxes of Leo stacked up in their stores. Guess their trucks are getting thru. Heard rumors that Singha was not so lucky. Good thing I drink Leo. Went shopping for a big bottle of Coke yesterday. Family Mart and 7-11 had exactly zero Coke or Pepsi products - no cans, or bottles of any size (but they had lots of that nasty "Big Cola" crap ). Drove around the corner to a little Mom & Pop store and they had plenty of Coke. Just have to know where to look.

I was thinking the same thing. Gabor has been a member of this board since Feb 03. Did it really take him 7 years to discover the Soi Bukao area? Of course he's been pretty busy during those 7 years, dishing out advice on all things Pattaya. At this rate he'll make his way to the Dark Side by, oh, maybe 2020?

Great report. I have been to Vientiane several times and always enjoy it. As you say it must be approached with a different mindset from the normal monger traveling in LOS. Lots of great bars and restaurants in Vientiane. One of my favorites you didn't mention: Khop Chai Deu, which is one of the coolest bar/restaurants I've been to anywhere. Thanks for the report and pics.

Rugby players are tough, but . . . these guys are not sissies. http://www.youtube.c...feature=related http://www.youtube.c...h?v=IjJtCNAinpc

Robert Mitchum (he was in both the 1991 and 1962 versions)

This statement makes me wonder. Why would a guy take any girl to Soi 6, let alone a Western girlfriend?

Thank God It's Friday

Madonna

Jimmy Nail was NOT "credited" in any film named "Get Carter" http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0619700/ *edited to add "credited", since I found this quote on his Wikipedia page: "(he had appeared as an extra in the movie Get Carter)."

James LeGros

Jessica Walter